Combined typewriter and punch recorder



July 4, WBQ. J. P. BucK-LEY 2,154,597

QOMBINED TYPEWRITER AND PUNCH RECORDER Filed Nov. 14, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOl-PU OiQQ! TYPEWRITLR. KEYS July 4, 1939. J. P. BUCKLEY COMBINED TYPEWRITER AND PUNCH RECORDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1936 FIG. Za

July 4, 1939.. .1. P. BUCKLEY COMBINED TYPEWRITER AND PUNCH RECORDER Filed Nov. 14, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED T'YPEWRITER AND' PUNCH RECORDER 19 Claims.

This invention relates to an, improved recording and transmitting mechanism and the present embodiment of the invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in my co -pending application Ser. No. 52,733 filed, December 3, 1935.

One object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that operation of the recording and transmitting mechanism may be controlled by an electromagnet and a commutator having a plurality of contacts corresponding in number to the number of used keys of a typewriter associated with the apparatus, provision being made whereby when a key of the typewriter is depressed a corresponding contact of the commutator will be rendered active.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recording and transmitting apparatus which is of simplified construction, highly eflicient in operation, and easily operated by any person having a knowledge of typewriting. It will thus be seen that a specially trained operator is not necessary and that since it is of a simplified construction it consists of a comparatively few number of parts which are strong and not liable to easily get out of order and need repairs or adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a card may be placed in a card holder and have perforations formed therein as keys of a typewriter are actuated, the card holder and a card carried thereby being so shifted during operation of the apparatus that the perforations will be formed in the card in locations corelated to characters imprinted by the typewriter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a recording and transmitting apparatus of such construction that a strip or film of paper, thin cardboard, or the like may be fed through the apparatus in step by step movements in position to have perforations formed therein as keys of a typewriter are actuated, sections of the strip being then cut to form cards or the strip being left uncut and formed into a roll after being punched. It will thus be seen that the operator does not in the modification have to feed cards to the apparatus and therefore a great deal of time will be saved.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a recording and transmitting apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention together with a wiring diagram.

Fig. 1a is a view showing portions of a typewriter in side elevation and portions in vertical section together with other elements of the invention associated with the keyboard of the typewriter.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 with a table constituting one element shown in section, the view being taken from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary view showing the impulse emitter and its actuating cam.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention wherein a strip of paper is fed from a roll during operation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation looking from. the lower end of Figure 3 with the table shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the apparatus of Fig. 3.

This improved apparatus is actuated from the keyboard of a typewriter or similar machine and in Figure 1 there has been shown typewriter keys I which are ten in number and represent those keys of the typewriter which control typebars imprinting numerals upon a card or sheet of paper in the typewriter when the keys are depressed. While only ten keys have been shown it is obvious that additional keys of the typewriter could be used and that the invention is not restricted to use of the keys controlling typebars forming numerals.

A rocker shaft 2 extends under the keyboard of the typewriter and when a selected one of the keys I is depressed the rocker shaft will be partly rotated. The rocker shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings 3 and may have a single elongated crank portion 4 extending under all of the keys I transversely thereon or may have a plurality of crank portions, one being located under each of the keys I. It will be readily understood from an inspection of Figures 1 and 1a that when a selected key is depressed it engages the crank portion of the rocker shaft and by applying pressure thereto causes the rocker shaft to be partly rotated.

At one end the shaft 2 carries a projection or finger 5 which extends rearwardly from the shaft and is engaged by one end of the spring 6 so that the rocker shaft will be yieldably held against rotation and returned to its normal position after a key which has been. depressed is released. When a key is depressed the finger 5 is swung upwardly and engages the lower one of a pair of contacts 1 so that this contact will be forced upwardly into engagement with the upper companion contact and the circuit maker and breaker formed by these contacts closed to establish a circuit through the solenoid 8 and energize the same. A manually actuated switch 7 is provided between the solenoid and the circuit maker and breaker which may be opened when it is desired to use the typewriter without operating the recording and transmitting apparatus. As the solenoid is energized its armature, which is in the form of a bar 9, is moved longitudinally, and since this bar has teeth it] along one side it serves as a rack bar, longitudinal movement of which in an inward direction is controlled by the valve l l and outlet 2.

The rack teeth l0 mesh with a pinion is carried by a shaft M upon which the bevelled gear [5 is loosely mounted and yieldably coupled to the shaft by a spring it having its ends fixed to the gear and the shaft, the shaft being rotatably supported by bearings H and 8. The bevelled gear 55 meshes with a second bevelled gear H which is fixed to the shaft 26 rotatably mounted in bearings 2i carried by the supporting frame 22. Adjacent the bevelled gear N3 the shaft carries a fixed gear 23, and the shaft also carries a loosely mounted gear 24 having a ratchet 25 at one side thereof which is engaged by a spring depressed pawl 26 carried by an arm fixed to the shaft 20. In mesh with the gear is a small gear or pinion 28 fixed to a shaft 2e rotatably supported by the frame 22. Adjacent the gear 28 the shaft 20 carries a cam 29 which is shaped to open and close the circuit maker and breaker 38 as the shaft turns. The circuit maker and breaker 36 and the actuating cam. 29 correspond to the contact 89 and actuating cam 5? shown at the left center of Figure 10 of my prior Patent 2,080,758, granted May 18, 1937, on application Ser. No. 752,909 which was copending with the present application, and constitute a transmitter whereby electrical impulses may be transmitted to a distant point during operation of the apparatus. The shaft 20' also carries a worm gear 35 meshing with the worm fixed upon the shaft 33 which carries a governor 34 and is rotatably mounted in bearings 35. The governor is of a conventional construction such as used in telephone dialing mechanisms.

Meshing with the gear 23 is a rack bar 36 which is mounted for reciprocating motion and has one side face provided with gear engaging teeth forming a rack 31 and its opposite side face formed with ratchet teeth 38 extending for a portion of the length of the bar. The bearings 39 and 4E] serve to slidably mount the bar 36 for reciprocating movement. Pivotally supported on the lower end of the bar 36 and extending transversely therefrom is. a spring pressed bearing bracket 4i carrying a metallic roller 42 which moves with the bar and traverses over the length of the commutator 43 which is composed of a plurality of insulated segments M each electrically connected with a companion key of the key board of the typewriter. The upper end of the bar 33 is rigidly attached to the card frame 45 and it will be readily understood that when the bar is moved longitudinally the card frame moves with it.

The card frame may be of any suitable design but in the present illustration is formed of sheet metal and has its central portion cut out as shown at 46 to provide end bars 41 and upper and lower side bars 48, the sidebars 48 being folded over as shown in Figure 2 to provide tracks or seats which are U-shaped in cross section. By this arrangement the card 49 can be slid into the frame longitudinally thereof with its side edge portions engaged in the seats of the side bars 48 of the frame and a card so applied will be firmly held in place and prevented from slipping out of the frame. The card frame slides upwardly and downwardly over the table 5Q as the bar 36 moves longitudinally and during this movement which is transversely of the table it moves across a slot 5! formed in the table longitudinally thereof. A rack bar 5| fits loosely in the slot 5i so that it may slide freely therein when the handle 52 is moved and carries lugs 53 and 5 which are located near ends of the bar in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof so that they may engage ends of the card but at the same time not interfere with movement of the card transversely of the table when the frame is shifted by longitudinal movement of the bar 36. The lugs may be slightly undercut in order that ends of the card may be engaged under them and the card prevented from slipping out of engagement with the lugs.

A lever 55 is pivoted at one end, as shown at to the upper end of an arm 51 which carries a plunger or punch 58. The plunger is yieldably held in a retracted position by a spring 58 so that the card may pass under the punch but when the lever is swung towards the arm 51 the punch will be forced to an extended position in which it passes through the card to perforate the same and through an opening 58" formed in the table back of the plunger or punch. Movement of the lever towards the arm 51 is eifected by a lug 59 projecting from the armature E3 of the solenoid 8 and attention is called to the fact that when the lever is moved towards the arm 51' it applies pressure to a rod normally held in the position shown in Figure 2 by a spring Bl. The rod is slidably mounted in the bearing 62 and at its inner end carries a pivotally mounted escapement 63 which engages a ratchet 64 carried by a shaft 65. A helical spring 66 is carried by the shaft 95 and has one end attached to the shaft while its other end is anchored to the bearing 67 through which the shaft extends. It will thus be seen that rotation of the shaft is controlled by movement of the lever 55 and that during operation of the apparatus the shaft 65 will be intermittently rotated. A bearing 88 rotatably supports the far end of the shaft t5 and upon this end portion of the shaft is fixed a gear 69 which meshes with the teeth of the rack bar 5|. Therefore as the lever 55 is moved downwardly towards the arm 5?, the shaft 65 which is under tension of the spring 66 moves the card longitudinally a distance corresponding to the width of one of its vertically extending columns and a column will be moved into position to have a perforation formed in one of the spaces of the column by the punch.

Inward movement of the bar 9 occurs when one of the keys of the typewriter is depressed by being struck by the operator and in the present instance it will be assumed that the key designated ill in Figure 1 has been struck and a perforation formed in the horizontally extending column of the card which also is designated by the numeral it in this figure. As the key is struck the solenoid 8 is energized by the circuit it which consists of the wire ll, the contact maker and breaker the wire 12, the source of power '13, and the wire M to the solenoid 8 from which the wire H extends. It will thus be seen that if one of the keys of the typewriter is struck the crank portion 4 of the shaft 2 will be forced downwardly to close the circuit maker and breaker l, at which time the solenoid 8 controlled by the circuit 19 will be energized to attract its armature bar 9 and thereby cause the gear train composed of the bevel gears l5 and I9 and the spur gear 23 to lift the bar 36 until I the valve.

the roller 42 makes electrical contact with the selected segment 44 of the commutator 43. At this instant the magnet I5 attracts the armature I6, which is normally held outwardly by the spring TI, and forces the rod I8 through the core I9 of the solenoid into position to engage the ratchet tooth 38 which is companionable to the segment engaged by the roller 42 and movement of the bar 36 and the card. frame transversely of the table will be brought to a stop but the lever 55 continues its movement to punch the card.

The circuit energizing the magnet I5 may be traced by the wire 89 leading to the positive side of the source of power 13 and from the negative side of the source of power through the conductor SI, the shift key 82, switch 83, common wire 93, contact switches 83" and selectively to the segments of the commutator 43 by way of the wires 84, thence to the roller 42, the rack bar 36 and to the magnet 15 through the wire 85. The commutator may be provided with any number of segments 44 desired but in the present illustration there have been shown ten metallic segments since ten keys of typewriter are used and the roller has been shifted downwardly into engagement with the lowest segment which is companion to the key designated by the numeral I0 in Figure 1. Normally the roller rests against the insulation 86 above the upper one of the segments.

Since the typewriter keys, the segments and the ratchet teeth of the rack bar are in timed relation with respect to the position of the plunger or punch 58, the plunger will always be in a true position to perforate the card before the armature comes to rest at its furthest inward movement, the speed of which movement is controlled by the valve II and the size of the opening I2 in The speed of the outward movement of the armature 9, under pressure of the springs II and IS in reversing the gears and the rack bar is controlled by the governor 34 which also, through the cam 29, times the electrical impulses sent out by the contact maker and breaker 39. The circuit from the contact maker and breaker may operate another apparatus at a remote station as shown in my co-pending application 752,- 909 filed Nov. 14, 1934 and maturing into Patent No. 2,080,758 issued May 18, 1937 for recording like data in printed form or in other ways and may be switched on or off at will when not needed.

When this embodiment of the invention is in use a card is placed in the card holding frame and as the operator strikes the keys of the typewriter to write upon a card or sheet of paper placed in the carriage of the typewriter the circuits will be established through the solenoid as previously set forth and perforations which are companion to the characters printed by the typewriter will be formed in the columns of the cards. The rack bar 5i which controls reverse motion of the card is moved longitudinally, in step by step movements during operation of the device and the card is also shifted transversely of the table so that the perforations will be formed in the proper locations in the card. After all-of the perforations have been formed the card may be removed from the card frame and a new card set in place, pressure being then applied to the handle 52 to shift the bar 52 towards the right in Figure 1. It will thus be seen that the card will be perforated at the same time a form placed in the carriage of the typewriter is filled in and this done by the typist operating the typewriter. Therefore any one having a knowledge of typewriting can operate the apparatus and special training in the operation of a card punching machine is not needed. A great deal of time will also be saved as writing upon the form in the typewriter carriage and punching the card in the card frame of the punching mechanism will all be performed by one person and at the same time.

In Figure 3 there has been shown a modified embodiment of the invention wherein a continu ous film or strip of card material is used instead of single cards which have to be individually fed to a card holding frame or carriage. Parts corresponding to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 are designated by the same numerals used therein. In this embodiment of the invention the table Si is of greater length than the table and formed with a transversely extending slot 9 I and at opposite sides of this slot are provided tongues 92 for engaging in grooves 93 of the U-shaped member 94 which has upper and lower bars 95 and 96 extending transversely of the table. To the outer end of the upper bar 95 the arm 55 is pivotally mounted to operate the plunger or punch 58 when the arm is swung downwardly as previously described. The opposite end of the arm engages the roller 96 rotatably mounted upon the projecting portion of the armature 9 whereby the arm may be easily moved when the armature is retracted by its solenoid 8. The under part of the lower bar 96 is provided with the rack teeth 3'! which mesh with the gear 23. Downward movement of the armature 9 causes the pinion I3, bevelled gears I5 and I9, and the spur gear 23 to operate. Attached to the hub 43 of the spur gear is the notched disk 97 which takes the place of the ratchet portion 38 and cooperates with the tripping means controlled by the magnet I5 which is the same as shown in Figure l and operates in the same manner. The card film or strip 99 is carried by the drum 99 which is supported by the standards I99 rising from the base IUI. The film or strip extends upwardly and after being engaged over the guide roller I92 is engaged under the roller I93 and then again extended upwardly and engaged between the rollers I94 and I05 from which point it extends along the table and between the bars 95 and 96 as shown in Figure 5 and between the toothed feed rollers or disks I06 and cooperating disks or rollers IIll, rotary motion being imparted to these rollers from the motor I08. The strips I99 serve to engage side edges of the film and direct the film in a true line with respect to the spaces between the printed lines H0 forming the columns in which holes or perforations III are punched by the plunger 58. The length of each card is determined by the evenly spaced cutouts or notches in formed in the film in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof as shown in Figure 3. Each notch has an edge H3 at its front end extending transversely of the film at right angles thereto, and the notches provide spaces through which the brush I I4 may pass to make contact with the metal table 9|. When this occurs the knife I I5 is actuated in a manner to be hereinafter set forth and serves to cut the film along the line II6 to sever a card which has been perforated.

Step by step movement of the film is controlled by the cam I I! fixed to the tubular shaft I I8 supporting the rollers I06 and this tubular shaft is held against longitudinal movement out of proper position for engagement of the rollers with the card by collars H9 fixed upon the motordriven shaft 520 upon which the tubular shaft is mounted. The shaft iZEl is rotatably supported by bearings I2I and has fixed to its right-hand end a gear I22 which is driven by the worm I23 carried by the shaft of the motor 598. A slidable clutch 324 is keyed to the shaft 429 and carries a pin to engage in the recess or seat I25 of the metallic disk 526 which is loose upon the shaft I20 and carries an insulation strip i2] which extends across its peripheral face for deenergizing the clutch magnet I28 after the cam II'l has made one complete revolution. During this revolution of the cam the pivoted arm E29 which is provided with a side arm I351 in contact with the cam as shown in Figure 6 is swung towards the shaft I20 by the spring ISl and the spring-controlled pawl pivotally mounted at the upper end of the arm will engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I33 fixed to the tubular shaft l i8 and rotate this shaft a distance corresponding to one tooth of the ratchet wheel. This distance equals the travel of the film a distance corresponding to one space or column printed upon the film and the columns will therefore be successively moved into position under the plunger or punch 58. A stop I32 is provided to engage the pawl and hold the pawl in proper engagement with the ratchet Wheel and prevent the pawl from slipping out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. As rotation of the cam continues the pivoted arm will be pushed away from the shaft to the position shown in Figure 6 at which time the brush l34 moves onto the insulation strip I2! of the metallic disk I26 of which the brush forms an element as shown in the diagrammatic view Figure 4.

The left-hand end portion of the shaft I26 is also provided with a clutch I35 having adjusting means I35 operably associated with the magnet I36 by means of which it is actuated to shift the clutch along the shaft. The clutch is keyed to the shaft and carries a pin I3? which projects laterally therefrom to engage in a recess formed in the hub. of the loosely mounted sprocket wheel I38. A sprocket chain 039 engages the sprocket wheel I38 and also engages a sprocket wheel MI] fixed to the shaft Mi which is rotatably mounted in bearings I42 supported by standards M3. The outer end portion of the shaft MI carries a fixed disk M l carrying a pin I45 serving as a pivot mounting for one end of the pitman arm M6, the other end of the pitman arm being pivotally connected with the outer end of the knife I I5. At its inner end the knife is pivotally mounted in the bearing bracket I4? and when it is swung downwardly it cooperates with the lower blade M8 to cut the film and form a card of the end portion out off. When the switch I50 controlling flow of current from the source of pow-er I5I through the motor IE8 is closed the motor is set in operation and the apparatus is in condition to punch the film or strip of paper and cut the film to form cards.

During operation of this machine the keys of the typewriter are struck and as each key is struck and the circuit maker and breaker I closed a circuit will be established through the main clutch magnet I28. This circuit consists of the source of power IS, the wire 'iI leading to the magnet from the positive side of the source of power, and the wires l2 and 83 leading to the negative side of the source of power from the magnet through the circuit maker and breaker 7. When a key of the typewriter is depressed a circuit is closed momentarily until the insulation strip I 21 carried by the metallic disk I26 moves from under the brush I34 and the brush electrically contacts with the grounded disk, at which instant and before the key returns to its normal position, the solenoid 8 is held on through one cycle or rotation of the shaft 20 by current flowing through the circuit consisting of the source of energy I3, wire I52, brush I34, metallic disk I26, wires I53 and I53, brushes I51, metallic disk H58, to the solenoid B by Way of the wire I54, and from the solenoid through the wire 83 to the positive side of the source of power. During the rotation of the shaft, as the armature 9 is attracted, the roller 42 upon electrically contacting with the segment of the communtator l3 corresponding to the key struck energizes the magnet 75 controlling the stop wheel 97. This prevents further progress of the member at and presents the plunger 58 over the space on the card which is companionable to the key struck. As the armature nears the end of its downward stroke the small roller 9t continues to pull the arm 55 until the plunger 58 is forced through the card to perforate the same. By this time the insulation strip I2'I' moves under the brush 534 to break the circuit through the solenoid 8 after which the entire mechanism is restored to its initial condi tion. When the last column of the card has been punched the operator may energize the clutch magnet I28 by pressing the button IE6 downwardly until the film has been stepped forwardly by the revolving cam for a predetermined number of steps, at which time the operator will release the button and the whole apparatus is restored to its initial condition. The button when pressed serves to open the circuit of the solenoid 8 by disassoeiating the brushes I51 from the disk E58 and, at the same time, causing the brushes I59 to electrically contact with the disk I55, both disks being grounded to the shaft lfiI. Upward movement of the shaft I6 is controlled by the dash pot I62 which is of a conventional construction. During forward movement of the film, and after the cam II! has made its third revolution, the brush I I4 electrically contacts with the grounded plate or table 9| and energizes the magnet E36, thus causing the knife blade I15 to be swung downwardly and sever the film to cut off a card. The two remaining rotations of the cam continue to advance the film forwardly until the first column of the next printed form upon the film is directly centered beneath the plunger 58 in position for perforating another card.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a card holder, perforating means, means for shifting the card holder and a card into position adapting the perforating means to form a perforation in a predetermined location in a card, electrically energized means for controlling movements of the shifting means and the perforating means, means for imprinting symbols including keys constituting means for closing a switch of the circuit for the electrically energized means for controlling operation of the perforating means and shifting of the card holder, and a cornmutator in said circuit having insulated stationary contacts each connected in series with a companion key and engagable by the movable contact to complete the circuit.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, means for effecting predetermined movements of a card and perforating means including electrically energized means for controlling said movements, and a circuit therefor having embodied therein a key board of a machine, a commutator having insulated stationary contacts each connected with a companion key of the key board, a movable contact for traveling from one sta tionary contact to another, and a main switch having actuating means engageable by said keys to close the switch when any one of the keys are actuated.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, means for effecting predetermined movements of a card holder and card and actuating perforat ing means to form perforations in a card in predetermined locations therein, said means including a rack bar for the card holder, an electrically energized latch for engaging the rack bar when energized and halting movement of the card holder, electrically energized means for actuating said perforating means and imparting movement to the card holder, and a circuit for the latch and the last-mentioned means including a key board, a main switch having actuating means engageable by the keys of said key board to close the switch when a selected key is depressed, a commutator bar having a series of insulated stationary contacts each connected with a companion key, and a contact carried by said rack bar for moving along the commutator bar into engagement with a stationary contact companion to a depressed key and energizing the latch to engage the rack bar and halt movement of the card holder.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, means for effecting desired movements of a card holder and card carried thereby and actuating perforating means to form perforations in desired locations in the card, said means inc1uding electrically energized members, and a circuit therefor having a main switch, a key board having its keys in the circuit, means for closing said switch operated by depression of any one of the keys of the key board, and a commutator having insulated stationary contacts each connected in circuit with a companion key, and a movable contact traveling with the card holder along the commutator into engagement with a stationary contact companion to a depressed key for energizing the latch and halting movement of the card holder in the desired position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, perforating means, mechanism for actuating the perforating means and feeding a form into position for formation of a perforation in a desired location therein, said mechanism including electrically energized means for controlling the same, and a circuit having embodied therein a key board, a commutator having insulated stationary contacts each in series with a companion key of the key board, a switch having closing means actuated when any of the keys are actuated, and a movable contact for traveling along the commutator and engaging a stationary contact companion to an actuated key to complete the circuit.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, perforating means, a card holder movably mounted, a rack bar extending from said card holder and provided with abutment teeth, a solenoid for actuating said perforating means, means actuated by movement of the core of the solenoid for shifting the rack bar longitudinally and moving the card holder and a card into position for forming a perforation in a predetermined position in the card, an electro-magnet having its armature constituting a latch for engaging the abutment teeth of the rack bar and halting movement of the rack bar and the card holder, and a circuit for said solenoid including a key board, a commutator having stationary contacts each in series with a companion key of the key board, a switch, means actuated by depression of any of the keys of the key board for closing the switch, and a movable contact carried by said rack bar in position for traveling along the com.- mutator and engaging a stationary contact companion to a depressed key and completing the circuit to energize the electromagnet and cause its armature to be moved into position to engage an abutment tooth of the rack bar and halt movement thereof when a predetermined portion of the card is in position to be perforated.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the means for transmitting motion to the card holder consists of a rotatable shaft carrying a pinion meshing with a rack extending longitudinally of the core of the first magnet, a gear loose upon the shaft, a coiled spring loose about the shaft and having one end anchored to the shaft and its other end anchored to the gear, a train of gearing including a gear meshing with the gear of said shaft and a pinion meshing with the rack bar, and a mounting for one end of said shaft having the commutator secured thereto.

8. The structure defined by claim 6 wherein means for closing the switch consists of a rocker shaft having a crank portion extending under the keys of the key board transversely thereof for engagement by depressed keys to rotate the rocker shaft, and a member carried by said rockor shaft for moving a movable contact of the switch into engagement with a companion contact when the rocker shaft is rotated in one direction by a depressed key.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a table, means for intermittently feeding a strip of forms along said table, means including a selectively settable punch for forming perforations in predetermined locations in the forms, electrically energized means for controlling operation of the perforating means and feeding of the strip of forms, and a circuit for the electrically energized means including a key board, a switch having means for closing the same when a key of the key board is depressed, and a circuit maker and breaker consisting of a commutator having stationary contacts each in circuit with a companion key of the key board, and a movable contact mounted on and moving with the perforating means along the commutator into position to engage a stationary contact companion to a depressed key and halt the perforating means in position to perforate the form in the predetermined location.

lG. In an apparatus of the character described, a table, means for intermittently feeding a sheet of forms along said table, means for forming perforations in the forms shiftable across the table transversely of the sheet, electrically energized means for controlling feeding of the sheet and shifting and operation of the perforating means, a cutter for cutting the sheet between the forms driven from the feeding means, and electrically energized means for controlling transmission of motion from the feeding means to said cutter as portions of the sheet between the forms move into position under the cutter.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a table, rollers for feeding a sheet of forms along said tab-1e, a driven shaft loosely mounting one roller, electrically energized means for intermittently effecting rotation of the roller with the shaft and causing feeding of the sheet in step by step movements longitudinally of the sheet, a support shiftable transversely of the table and the sheet and carrying a periorator, an actuating lever for said perforator carried by said support, electrically actuated means for shifting said support to move the perforator to a predetermined location over a form and subsequently effecting movement of said lever to operate the perforator, a cutter for cutting the sheet between forms, operating means for said cutter driven from said shaft, and electrically actuated means for controlling the operating means having a circuit including means for closing the circuit when a portion of the sheet between forms is under the cutter.

12. In a machine of the character described, a support for a perforator consisting of a horizontal bar having upper and lower arms and a bridge connecting the same at one end, a perforator carried by the upper arm adjacent the free end thereof, an actuating lever for the perforator pivoted at the free end of the upper arm and extending longitudinally of the bar over the perforator and the upper arm, and electrically energized means for actuating the lever including a solenoid having its core extending upwardly and provided with a side arm overlapping the lever for swinging the lever downwardly to operate the perforator when the solenoid is energized.

13. In a device of the character described, a support for a perforator consisting of a horizontal bar having upper and lower arms and a bridge connecting the same at one end, a perforator carried by the upper arm adjacent the free end thereof, an actuating lever for the perforator pivoted at the free end of the upper arm and extending longitudinally of the bar over the perforator and the upper arm, the lower arm of the horizontal bar being formed with a rack bar, a solenoid constituting an element of electrically energized means for actuating the perforator and shifting the bar longitudinally, said solenoid having its core provided with a rack and at its upper end carrying a side arm overlapping the lever, a train of gearing including a pinion meshing with the rack of the core of the solenoid, and a gear meshing with the rack of the bar whereby the bar will be shifted and the perforator actuated as the core is drawn downwardly by the solenoid.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination, a symbol imprinting means including keys for actuation thereof, a perforation receiving element having transversely arranged 1ongitudinal columns corresponding to certain of said keys and symbols associated therewith, a perforating element, means providing step by step relative longitudinal movement of said elements with respect to each other and means providing relative transverse movement of said elements with respect to each other, electro-mechanical means controlled by said certain of said keys for selecting the degree of said transverse movement from normal position including commutator and contact means, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable with one of the relatively transversely movable elements.

15. In a device for perforating record forms, a punching mechanism, means for advancing the record form in a given direction relative to the punch-mechanism, means for effecting relative movement between the record form and the punching mechanism at right angles to the given direction, means comprising a group of key selectable circuits, including contacts relatively movable in accordance with the last named relative movement of the punching mechanism and record form, for selectably controlling the degree of such movement.

16. In a device of the character described, a

perforation receiving element having transversely arranged longitudinal columns, a perforating element, means providing step-by-step relative longitudinal movement of the elements with respect to each other and means providing relative transverse movement of the elements with respect to each other, electro-mechanical means for selecting the degree of transverse movement from normal position including commutator and contact means, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable with one of the relatively transversely movable elements.

17. In a device of the character described, a sheet to be punched, a punching device, means for advancing the sheet step-by-step, means mounting the punching device and sheet for rela tive movement at right angles to the step-by-step movement, electrically operated means for effecting the last named relative movement and operating the punching device, and electrically operated means for arresting said movement in a selected position; a keyboard, circuit means controlling the arresting means including means associated with certain of the keys of the keyboard, a commutator having electrically independent segments, one corresponding to one each of said 7,

certain of the keys, and a contact member coopcrating with the commutator; means for mounting said commutator and contact member for relative movement corresponding to the last named relative movement of the sheet and punching device, a second circuit means associated with said keyboard for controlling the first named electrically operated means.

18. In a device of the character described, in

combination with a punching element and an element to be punched, means for effecting rela tive lateral movement of one element with respect to the other, key controlled circuit means for selecting the degree of such movement from normal position including a commutator and contact member, one of which is stationary and the other of which is movable with one of the relatively laterally movable elements.

19. In a record perforating device, a record sheet to be perforated, means for advancing the sheet longitudinally, a laterally positionable punching element, electro-magnetic means for operatingvand positioning the punching element, a circuit including a source and a timing switch associated with the advancing means, for energizing the electro-magnetic means, electro-mechanical means for determining the position of the punch-element, a commutator and a keyboard having keys corresponding to and connected electrically with the commutator segments, a feeler contact movable with the punching element and in series with the electro-mechanical means whereby the downward movement of a given key Will control the electro-mechanical means in a manner to determine the position of the punching element accordingly.

JOHN P. BUCKLEY. 

